If you are looking for something to worry about, read this paper called China’s Global Quest for Energy by Cindy Hurst (a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve). It is a bit of dense read, but well worth the time if you have not been keeping up on China has been doing lately.
It is natural that China should pursue energy security. It is natural the China’s growing economic might would grant it more leverage in that pursuit. It is also natural that China would be untroubled by any ethical scruples in the pursuit of their energy goals.
But what is natural is rarely pleasant. China’s headlong pursuit of oil has already has been destabilizing the world. As Ms. Hurst’s puts it….
Chinese oil companies are taking more risks in order to acquire oil assets
overseas. These risks are already having major geopolitical consequences. For
example, in deals made with Sudan, China has become the country’s chief arms
supplier and diplomatic ally, as Sudan wages a genocidal war against its African
tribes. In another example, China’s deals with Iran, going against the Iran-Libya
Sanctions Act (ILSA) of 1996, have paved the way for other countries to do the
same, opening up more opportunities for trade in arms and weapons of mass
destruction. The selling of arms and weapons technology is a growing trend
used by countries such as China and Russia, to meet their own economic needs.
One could argue that such adverse consequences are no worse then those brought about by the US pursuit of oil. In fact, I think that many people welcome the idea of strong China to counterbalance the arrogant Untied States.
But if you pay attention to what China is doing, I think it is clear that rise of China ability to balance the US will lead to double trouble. Not peace and stability. One super power may be bad, but two superpowers will be worse.
[…] _uacct = “UA-1202685-1”; urchinTracker(); Map of the Ethereal Land The Ethereal Voice Front Page – Politics – Money – Knowledge – Art – Food – Fun Masthead About Something to keep you awake at night…. By Ape Man | April 7, 2007 – 9:16 pm Posted in Category: Politics If you are looking for something to worry about, read this paper called China’s Global Quest for Energy by Cindy Hurst (a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve). It is a bit of dense read, but well worth the time if you have not been keeping up on China has been doing lately. It Click Here to continue reading. […]